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Implantation and placental development in somatic cell clone recipient cows
Kazuyoshi Hashizume1, Hiroko Ishiwata, Keiichiro Kizaki
1Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan. kazuha@affrc.go.jp
Cloning and Stem Cells
|October 26, 2002
Summary
Somatic cell nuclear transfer in cattle results in abnormal placental development and function, indicated by fewer placentomes and altered gene expression. These placental changes are key indicators of pregnancy issues in cloned cows.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Animal cloning
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in cattle has a high rate of pregnancy failure.
- Abnormal placental development is a suspected cause of low cloning yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate placental development and function in SCNT recipient cows (NT) compared to artificially inseminated (AI) cows.
- To identify molecular indicators of placental dysfunction in cloned cattle.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of placentome number, morphology, and histology between NT and AI cows at day 60 of gestation.
- Analysis of gene and protein expression (placental lactogen, pregnancy-associated glycoprotein, prolactin-related protein-1, heparanase) in placentomes.
- Microarray analysis of gene expression during early implantation.
Main Results:
- NT cows had fewer placentomes, fewer chorionic villi, and poorly developed caruncles compared to controls.
- Histological examination revealed disruptions in placentomes of NT cows.
- Differential expression of placental lactogen (PL), pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG), and heparanase (HPA) was observed in NT cows.
- Gene expression disorientation during early implantation in NT cows resolved later in gestation.
Conclusions:
- SCNT in cattle is associated with delayed trophoblast development and aberrant placental function.
- PL, PAG, and HPA are potential biomarkers for assessing gestation and placental health in cloned cattle.